Subscribe to this blog

Follow by Email

Search This Blog

Wives of AFL Soldiers Stage Protest Demanding Benefits

Wives of Armed Forces of Liberia officers on Tuesday blocked the highway leading to the Roberts International Airport in demand for money they claim the Ministry of Defense owes their husbands. Regular flow of traffic was obstructed for more than three hours.

“They refused to give our husbands compulsory saving to us for the past 10 years they have been in power. They were to use that money to pay our husbands off, but they refused to give it,” Beatrice, one of the protesting wives of the soldiers explained.

“Our husbands can’t get pay on time, no money, no food, no current, no water, when we talked than they threatened us; so we just living like that in this barrack. We want the old people that leaving power to give us this money then the new President starts his own.”

They claimed US$20.00 was deducted each month as “compulsory saving” for the past years from their husbands. Some of the women claimed their husbands complied with the deduction for the past eight, nine or 10 years.

“The General said they could not assure us that the money will be paid because it is not intended for sharing and that is why we are protesting,” said one of the protesters.

“It has been 11 years now since they started subtracting this money from their salary and told us that after series of engagement that if our husbands are not dead they will not give us the money,” added another protester only identified as Yassah.

“But what they are saying is that the deduction did not start 10 years ago and that it started in 2009, which we are saying is false.

“We appealed that we need our money so dearly because the living condition is so poor and our children go to school up to 9th grade but the money our husbands making cannot help us send them to college,” she said.

The women accused Brigade commander Colonel Augustine Foleh of firing several gunshots during their protest to scare them away expressing their grievances and said the AFL authority has threatened to witch-hunt their husbands if their protest.

“The Brigade Commander called to the gate and ordered his boys to seize the plank we can use to build our market kitchen and carrying home to build his house,” said Patience, one of the protesters.

They said their husbands were assured before signing up to the “compulsory saving” that they would receive it before the end of the government tenure.

“But the General is telling us that this compulsory saving is our husbands’ benefits – how possible can it be, because they are saying that if he (my husband) dies before they give me the benefit?” One of the ladies said.

They are also demanding that the outgoing government pay their husband’s benefits and improve the living condition in the barrack before turning over power to the next government on January 22.

According to them, the living conditions in the barrack are “discouraging, pitiful and dilapidated”.

“We need this government, by the special grace of God, to help improve the lives of soldiers and their families – we are dying slowly, we’re in complete darkness, dungeon.”

The protesters also claim the government is not providing electricity and water and does not pay their husbands’ salaries on time, stressing that school fees for elementary students at the barrack’s school is about LD$15,000.

When contacted for his reaction on the protest, the Chief of Staff of the AFL told reporters he could not speak on the matter, but promised to get back to the aggrieved women on Thursday this week.

Get link

Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

Google+

Email

Other Apps

Get link

Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

Google+

Email

Other Apps

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Wilmot Collins will be Helena’s new mayor, unseating incumbent Jim Smith in a close race Tuesday. Collins, 54, will be the city's first new mayor in 16 years after running a long campaign based in progressive principles.“The people of Helena have spoken, and I am honored to be able to serve them,” Collins said as the night drew to a close. “I intend to work with commissioners, work for the people of Helena and find what is best for this city.”Collins also sought to praise Smith for his work over the past decade and a half.“I commend Mayor Smith. He’s done a great job for the city, and I hope to work with him in the future," Collins said. At the La Pa Grill on 6th Avenue in downtown Helena, Collins and other members of the self-described “progressive ticket” watched and waited for the results of the 2017 election.The feeling was festive as Collins received a call from U.S. Sen. Jon Tester congratulating Collins on his victory. Victory cigars were passed around the room at the …

C Liberia Clearly CEO calls on George Weah to take Arts and Culture seriously.
The Honorable George M. Weah, President of the Republic of Liberia, I write to endorse your "Pro Poor" agenda. I fully

support your call "to ensured Liberians are not spectators in the

Liberian Economy."
In

order to carry out this "Pro Poor" agenda successfully,

and in order to fully empower the young generation, the Liberian Entertainment Industry must be included.

Arts and Culture has played a critical role in keeping our young citizens gainfully employed. From the music industry to film industry to the fashion industry, this generation has benefitted from the employment opportunities arts and culture provides. To extend the benefits of arts, culture and tourism, the Liberian government must support and rely on arts and culture as a key input for rebuilding our nation. There are several actions this administration should take to strengthen the role that arts and culture p…

By Berenice Mulubah and Kru CherieGbana Pekins and big juesWheelbarrow boys and Market girls Brabees and zogosPenpen boys and penpen girls Big boy one and big boy twoMamie pepper and teacher pepperDecembrians and been-tos Not forgetting Dr. Turn aroundAll the Maco(s) and Paco (s) That Cerees speaking girl and senate juesMen have come and men have gone Our mothers have given birth to kings and queens Stand on Snapper Hill and sing it loud in Kolloque songLet all the good things flowClub beer, cane juice and palm wine tooFrom God to manthe palm wine can’t fini seh Tell Ma Hawa to bring the chewThe GB, Fufu and dumb boy tooPalmbutter, torbugee, Cassavaleaf can’t fini seh You see what God Nah doPapa God has brought us throughFrom many years of heartaches and shameWiping our tears awayOver the years we lost our waySpilling our own blood from pole to poleSwimming in hurts and painFor so many years things remained the sameNow the time has come To soak our feet in the sand of Sun Set beachSo…